Between 2,100 and 3,800 people are identified as victims of human trafficking every year in Italy, revealed the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts dedicated to combating this scourge (GRETA) on Friday 23 February, but it stressed that these figures do not reflect the scale of the phenomenon.
This underestimation is due to the persistent shortcomings of the procedures Italy has put in place to identify victims of trafficking and the low rate of reporting by these victims, who fear punishment or deportation.
GRETA expressed its “concern that the restrictive immigration measures adopted by the Italian authorities have fostered a climate of criminalisation of migrants", despite "the efforts made to improve detection of trafficking victims among asylum seekers, notably by the territorial commissions for the recognition of international protection”.
Other positive developments are highlighted by GRETA, including the adoption of a “National Action Plan against Trafficking and Serious Exploitation of Human Beings“, increased funding for victim assistance and the introduction of specific procedures for children.
But regrettably, this has not prevented a decline in the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions.
GRETA is also concerned that no victim has received compensation from the ‘Fund for anti-trafficking measures’.
Sexual exploitation remains the predominant form of trafficking, and most victims are women, although the number of men and transgender people is increasing.
Labour exploitation, meanwhile, is on the rise in high-risk sectors such as agriculture, textiles, domestic work, construction, the hotel industry and food service.
Link to the GRETA report: https://aeur.eu/f/ayu (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)